"16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" ~ Romans 1:16-17
We return to our study of Romans where we are given the most life-transforming truths ever given to man in one book. In fact, every major doctrine in the Bible is delivered in this letter. If we really understand and respond to these truths, for us, time and eternity will be totally altered.
There are four key words in these two verses that make up the thesis statement for this book. Once we have understood these four words, we will discover that we will never be ashamed of the gospel ourselves. These four words are "power," "salvation," "believes" and "righteousness."
In v.16 of today's passage we read, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."
The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, because it deals with the bottom line real issue in all of our lives. Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Berea, laughed at in Athens, ridiculed as a fool in Corinth, stoned while in Galatia. And yet, he was eager to preach this gospel in Rome. The Apostle Paul was convinced of the veracity in the gospel. His eagerness was the result of understanding that the gospel does something no man can do for himself: to change his heart. It is the righteousness of Christ only that makes the sinner worthy before God. And, this righteousness is free to anyone willing enough to believe that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ solved our greatest problem. This is what Paul writes about throughout the book of Romans.
Paul used the word power to describe the ability of the gospel to change the human heart. By using this word from which we get our English word "dynamite," Paul wrote of the omnipotence of God. The all powerful God of the universe is behind this operative power of regenerating us, of making us alive to Him.
There is a basic power within us all that makes us clamor for change. Deep down within us all, we really want our lives to be different, but we are utterly impotent to change ourselves. The advertisers of this world know this and make billions of dollars convincing on us that their product will change our lives. But, it never happens that way. This is why God delivered the gospel the way He did. He delivered the gospel of His Son as a force that He uses to transform our very lives through a personal relationship with Him.
The Romans were a very proud people due to their advancements in the world. They prided themselves on their military power that could conquer all other nations. They also had a tremendous program of road-building. They even had some of the greatest law-makers of history. And, Paul knew that the Romans also were powerless when it came to changing their hearts. They were powerless to eliminate slavery. In fact, up to half of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. They were powerless to change the stubborn, hostile, hateful hearts of men and eliminate violence. The Roman Empire was full of violence and corruption and the suicide rate was extremely high at that time. The Romans could do nothing about these things. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ only that unleashes the power of God to do these very things that man cannot do.
In v.17 of today's passage we read, "For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
The righteousness of God that Paul writes about speaks not of a righteous God judging an unrighteous world, as much as a righteous God imputing righteousness to an unrighteous world. I find it staggering that God would use His very own righteousness to forgive us. And, the death of God was a must for the righteousness of God to be delivered to the ungodly.
The salvation that God offers us operates only through faith, that’s all. This salvation is not something we will ever earn, it is something we receive when we recognize our need for it. This is why the Apostle spends the first three chapters of this book convincing us that we are sinful, wretched, and, hopeless apart from Christ before he delves deeply into the gospel. This is why the word "law" appears 78 times throughout this epistle. It is the law of God which condemns us in our sinful state. It is the efforts of Christ, only, which renders us acceptable before God.
Biblical faith is trust. Even faith or the ability to believe is a gift from God. And, this faith is trusting and believing in our hearts that God has raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. Faith in Him renders salvation from the penalty, power and presence of sin. It is not baptism. It is not moral reform. Salvation is not going to church, and, it is not conforming to rules. It’s not even self-discipline and restraint. It’s not morality. No, this salvation is a personal relationship with God wherein our hearts are being changed as we learn of His great love for us for eternity.
